5 Reasons Why Fall is the Best Time to Explore the Atlanta Beltline with Your Dog
Finally. The humidity has backed off. The pavement isn’t radiating heat. And you can make it further than a quarter mile without feeling like you're going to pass out. For anyone exploring the Atlanta Beltline with a dog, this is the sweet spot.
The Walk Can Be the Plan
Fall is one of the few times in Atlanta when you can let the walk dictate the day instead of the weather. You don’t need much of an itinerary. Start on the Eastside Trail and wander in any direction, stopping only when your dog finally runs out of opinions.
Patio Stops Are Better
In fall, that patio stop feels less like a break from the heat and more like part of the outing.
Breaker Breaker is right off the trail with a big outdoor patio, so grabbing a drink or something to eat doesn’t mean ending the outing.
More into the margarita scene? Chiringa and Muchacho are some of the most dog-friendly stops on the Atlanta Beltline, both with big open air patios and plenty of room to hang out with your pup.
These are the kind of stops that make “one more mile” an easier sell.
It's a Completely Different Experience
As humans, we tend to notice the restaurants, murals, and skyline views. But dogs have different priorities. Fall brings piles of leaves, cooler grass, squirrels making questionable decisions, and approximately 40,000 smells that apparently require immediate investigation.
That makes some of the greener stretches especially fun. The Northeast Trail runs through a less commercial part of the Atlanta Beltline, so the experience feels noticeably different from the busier Eastside Trail, but it’s still the Beltline.
Your pup will appreciate having a little more nature to explore (and will inevitably stop you every 15 feet to examine).
Sweater Weather Isn’t Just for You
Fall is also a good excuse to freshen up your pup’s look, especially if your dog takes sweater weather as seriously as you do. On the Eastside Trail, you can spoil them by shopping at The Clean Dog.
After all, they’re going to be spending a lot more time on the Beltline. They might as well dress for it.
Make It a Doggie Day Out
Want to turn your BeltLine walk into a day your dog will really love? Join Barks & Bites: Beltline Doggie Crawl — Atlanta’s only restaurant crawl created for dogs!
Your pup gets to dine at dog-friendly restaurants, where they’ll be served real human food prepared especially for them. These are off-menu dishes you can only get on the Doggie Crawl. And because no day out is complete without a little shopping, we’ll also stop at 2 local pet boutiques along the way.
There are bites for the humans, too, but make no mistake: this is your dog’s day out!
There’s Even Trick-or-Treating for Dogs
Fall on the Beltline comes with one important event your pup definitely shouldn’t miss: the Howl-O-Ween Pup Parade & Beltline Crawl.
Dogs will be taking over the Eastside Trail for a costume parade, contest, and trick-or-treating at participating Beltline businesses. Yes, your dog gets to go trick-or-treating. And yes, a costume is highly encouraged. There will even be prizes from Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming. Advance tickets are required.
Nicole Pitts is a freelance marketer for BiteLines Atlanta Food Tours. An avid traveler, she loves experiencing destinations through their local restaurants and cuisines. She has lived in Atlanta on and off throughout her life and considers the Beltline one of the city's best places to eat, explore, and spend an afternoon with her dog.
